Yovano, Yovanke

Yovano, Yovanke (Bulgarian: Йовано, Йованке, Serbian: Јовано, Јованке, Macedonian: Jовано, Jованке) (in some countries latinised with a J, signifying a short Close front unrounded vowel) is a traditional folk song of the Macedonia region. It is popular in and frequently performed in the Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, northern Greece and Republic of Macedonia. It is about two young lovers separated by their disapproving parents. The song mentions the Vardar river which runs through present-day Greece and Republic of Macedonia.^[1] Yovana is a female name (Slavic form of Joan or Joanna), and Jovanka is the diminutive form. The usages Yovano and Yovanke are in the vocative case used by the South Slavic languages.

Lyrics

Macedonian	Bulgarian	English translation[2]
Јовано, Јованке Јовано, Јованке, Крај Вардарот седиш, мори Бело платно белиш, Бело платно белиш, душо Сè нагоре гледаш. Јовано, Јованке, Јас тебе те чакам, мори Дома да ми дојдеш, А ти не доаѓаш, душо, Срце мое, Јовано. Јовано, Јованке, Твојата мајка, мори Тебе не те пушта, Кај мене да дојдеш, душо Срце мое, Јовано.	Йовано, Йованке Йовано, Йованке Край Вардаро седиш, мори Бело платно белиш, Бело платно белиш, душо Се нагоре гледаш. Йовано, Йованке, Аз те тебе чакам, мори Дома да ми дойдеш, А ти не доадяш, душо Сърце мое, Йовано. Йовано, Йованке, Твоята майка, мори Тебе не те пуща, Край мен да доадяш, душо Сърце мое, Йовано.	Yovano, Yovanke, Yovano, Yovanke, You sit by the Vardar, washing your white clothes, washing your white clothes, my dear, Always looking up. Yovano, Yovanke, I'm waiting for you, To come to my home, But never do you come, my dear, My heart, Jovano. Jovano, Jovanke, Your mother, doesn't let you, to come with me, my dear, My heart, Jovano.

Renditions

• In 2007, Bulgarian singer and entertainer Slavi Trifonov performed the song and filmed a patriotic video to accompany it, which recreates the Bulgarian victory in the Battle of Doiran during the First World War.^[3]
• Macedonian singer and songwriter Aleksandar Sarievski performed a traditional version of the song throughout his musical career (1946–2002).^[4]
• In 1967, former Yugoslav beat band Zlatni Dečaci recorded a version of the song for Vladan Slijepčević's film Where to After the Rain?.
• In 1967, by Avi & Esther Ofarim
• In 1968, Turkish singer Ajda Pekkan recorded a version of the song titled as Ne Tadı Var Bu Dünyanın with newly written lyrics in Turkish language.
• In 1986, Croatian and former Yugoslav hard rock band Osmi Putnik incorporated a part of the melody in their song "Jovana".
• In 1986, Macedonian and former Yugoslav jazz-fusion and rock band Leb i Sol (Macedonian: Леб и сол), produced an instrumental version of the song.
• In 1991, Croatian singer and songwriter Branimir Štulić recorded song for his album "Sevdah za Paulu Horvat". Later, in 2012, he recorded one more version in his home-studio in Netherlands.
• In 1994, Macedonian and former Yugoslav band Anastasia (Macedonian: Анастасија) included a part of the melody in the score "Coming Back Home 1" for the soundtrack of Before the Rain.
• In 1999, Romanian band Transsylvania Phoenix included a version of the song on their album Ora-Hora.
• In 1997 and 2003, Vienna-based world music band Nim Sofyan released a version of the song.
• In 2001, Celtic bouzouki pioneers Roger Landes and Chipper Thompson recorded an instrumental version on their album, "The Janissary Stomp."
• In 2003, New Zealand based world music band Many Hands released a version of this song on their album Routes.
• In 2003, Polish band Kroke and the violinist Nigel Kennedy performed this song on their album East meets East.
• In 2006, Berlin-based world music band 17 Hippies released a version of the song on their album Hippies Live in Berlin. The band previously released it several times, first time on their album Rock 'n' Roll 13 in 1995.
• In 2006, Macedonian singer Toše Proeski released a version of the song on his album Božilak (Macedonian: Божилак). Proeski has frequently performed the song at his live concerts as well.
• In 2009, Croatian-Istrian-based band Hot Club de Istra made a gypsy jazz arrangement of the song.
• In 2009, the melody of this song was used in the sixth sequel of the TV advertising campaign Macedonia Timeless.
• In 2011, polish producer Marcin Wyrosek released with the polish singer Kayah a version of the song on his album.
• In 2011, What Cheer? Brigade, a brass band based in Providence, Rhode Island released a version of the song on their album Classy: Live in Pawtucket.
• In March 2014 the Slovenian vocal choir Perpetuum Jazzile released an a capella arrangement as a free download from Soundcloud.

References

1. Paul Boizot (2008-03-03). "Jovano Jovanke". Retrieved 2009-10-29. (Macedonian)/(English)
2. "Текст на Yovano, Yovanke (Йовано, Йованке) + превод на Английски (Версия #1)". Retrieved 2015-09-02.
3. "Slavi Trifonov i Ku-Ku Bend - Jovano Jovanke". 2007-03-21. Retrieved 2007-07-28.
4. "Aleksandar Sarievski - Jovano Jovanke". 2007. Retrieved 2009-08-24.

External links

• Jovano, Jovanke (Bulgarian)
• Jovano, Jovanke (Macedonian)
• Jovano, Jovanke performed by Toše Proeski and Bilja Krstic
• Jovano Jovanke performed only by Toše Proeski
• Jovano Jovanke performed by Selimova-Želčeski
• Jovano Jovanke performed by 17 Hippies
• Javano Jovanke performed by Nigel Kennedy
• Jovano Jovanke performed by Many Hands
• Jovano Jovanke performed by Ethnotrip

See also

• Music of the Republic of Macedonia
• Music of Bulgaria